Role of Logistics Equipment in Manufacturing

Logistics are an integral component of supply chain management. It involves the planning, carrying out, and management of goods, services, and information from the point of origin to the point of consumption. In essence, the role of logistics is to enable a steady stream of products and their supply by manufacturers, and for manufacturing companies, it is critical to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Let us find out the various role of logistic equipment in manufacturing:

Transport of materials across the factory or warehouse

The efficient transportation of materials across the factory floor is crucial to the manufacturing process. The transportation of materials needs to be fast, effective, and accident-free. There are various material handling devices for the transportation of goods. From simple transportation devices like carts to advanced devices like AGV’s (Automated Guided Vehicles), there’s a plethora of equipment that can be used according to the requirements of the plant. Some of them are:

• Hand Trucks
• Pallet Trucks
• Platform Trucks
• Forklifts
• Conveyors
• Overhead Trolleys
• Sideloaders
• Robotic Delivery System
• Walkie Stackers
• Jib Cranes (Articulating Jib Arms)

Positioning material loads

Another role of material handling equipment is the manipulation and positioning of materials in the process of production. There are devices like inline vertical lifters to lift the material loads up in the air. There are devices like articulating jibs that place and manipulate objects in desired places. These devices are essential to the manufacturing process as they assist in handling the work in progress material. The various positioning and handling devices include

• Balancers
• Hoists
• Industrial Manipulators
• Inline Vertical Lifters
• Lift/Tilt/Turn Tables
• Industrial Robots

These devices further come in different variants to cater to the different requirements of different manufacturers.

Storing the product

Another important function of logistics equipment in the manufacturing industry is the storage of goods. Material handling equipment is used to hold or buffer materials during downtimes or times when they are not being transported. The most commonly used storage equipment includes pallets, shelves, or racks onto which materials may be stacked in an orderly manner to await transportation or consumption. The other storage devices are:

• Racks
• Stacking frames
• Shelves, bins, and drawers
• Mezzanines
• AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems)
• Carousels 

Loading & unloading the product

Loading and unloading cargo to and from a truck is another role of logistics equipment in manufacturing. There are devices to load cargo on a pallet and devices to unload it from the same. There are devices that load cargo into containers and devices to remove cargo from the same. There are several material handling devices for that purpose such as:

• Palletizers
• Depalletizers
• Container Vanning & Devanning Systems

Logistics is a broad concept that comprises more functions than those mentioned above, but the role of material handling devices in manufacturing is extremely important.